Method and apparatus for coating the interior of mold surfaces



I. R, CLlNE Feb. 12, 1935.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING THE INTERIOR OF MOLD SURFACES FiledApril 23, 1932 Patented Feb. 12, 193,5

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING THE INTERIOR OF MOLD SURFACES Irl R.Cline, Danville, Ill., assignor to Western Brick Company, Danville,111., a corporation of Illinois 0 Application April 23, 1932, Serial No.907,210

Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus forcoating the interior of V mold surfaces with a slipping agent and moreparticularly to a method and apparatus for moistening mold surfaces tocause the adhesion of such slipping agent.

The slipping agent is usually natural sand.

In some cases it is also the function of the slipping agent to produce atexture or color on the brick surface.

With some types of natural sands, the sand ing of the molds is easilyaccomplished by passing the damp molds through a sand bath wheresufficient sand adheres to them to produce the desired results. Withother types, such as those made from crushed, burned brick-difficultiesare encountered because the sands do not adhere to the molds insufiicient quantities. Such sands, being somewhat more absorbent,require more moisture. in the molds to provide the necessary capillaryadhesion.

Efforts have been made to overcome the diiiiculty by applying additionalmoisture in the form of a water spray to the inside of the molds. Theresults of such efforts have not been fully efiective because ofdifficulties inobtaining a satisfactorily uniform atomization anddistribution of the water.

According to the present invention, jets of steam are directed upon themolds. This steam condenses upon contact with the mold surfaces.

which are relatively cool and usually slightly moist from previous use.1

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmethod for sanding molds or the like.

It is afurther object to provide an apparatus for carrying out theimproved method.

It is also an, object to provide method and apparatus for directing ajet of steam upon a mold surface. Y

It is an additional object to provide a method Figure 2 is a fragmentarysection taken on 1 collect in the pipe above thevalve 34 and below line2-2 of Figure 1;-and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a mold."

portions being broken away to clearlyshow the structure. 1 1

Referring first to Figure 3,. the molds used comprisefront and backstrips 11 which are alike, the mold being interchangeable as to thesetwo faces. The mold is provided with a plurality of partitions 12 whichdividevthe mold into seven compartments 13. Thus each mold will containseven formed-blanks for bricks.

Each compartment 13 is closed by a bottom member 14. It is to be notedthat partitions 12 do not extend down as low as the bottom members 14 sothat recesses 15 are formed on the under side of the mold. The front andback members 11 extend downlower than the partition members 12.

The brick sanding machine. shown in Figure 1 includes a loading slide 16which extends upon an angle and is adapted to receive a plurality of thebrick molds 1'7. These molds are placed in contactwith each other andmove down the slide 16 by gravity. The sanding machine is driven throughthe shaft 18 carrying the. large wheel 19. This shaft 18 carries thecylindrical member 20 about which passes the continuous belt 21. Thisbelt also passes about the enlarged rotating shafts 22 and 23 andcontacts with an edge of the disc ends 24'of the sanding drum. Sand isloosely piled as indicated at 25 within the pocket or cavity formedbetween the ends 24 of the sanding drum and closed at its lower side andleft hand side as seen in Figure 1, by

the continuous belt 21. The molds 17 pass down from slide 16 on to. thecontinuous belt 21 and are carried by that beltup around until theyincline inwardly, when they are caught upon the discharge arms 26. Itwill be understood that they reach these arms upside down and thatsurplus sand will fall out of the molds upon and between the arms 26,where it will be returned to the mass of sand 25 in the machine. Fromtheir position on the arms 26 the molds are removed by the operator tobe placed in the brick v molding machine.

In order to properly coat the molds with moisture beforethey enter thesanding area of the machine, I have provided the steam header 27 securedto the frame member 39 of the sanding machine. The header 27 is fed withsteam through the hose 28 which is connectedto the valve 29. This valve29 is connected by pipe 3 0 to the steam main 31. 'The steam main 31 isprovided with an ordinary type. of control valve which closes off theend of the main from the pipe portion 33 which connects to the source ofsteam supply. The lower end of the main 31 is controlled by valve'34which may be opened todischarge any condensed water which may allowsteam to pass to hose 28 and header 27. The header 27 is provided with aplurality of discharge pipes 37Qwhich are closed except' for openingsdrilled at" angles therein adjacent the ends 38. These pipes 37, as bestshown in Figure 2, are so located as to each be above a median portionof a brick receiving cavity 13 in the mold 17. It will be apparent fromFigures 1 and 2 that the valve handle 35 is so located as to normallyfit within a recess 15 below the partition member 12 between brickforming cavities. It is of sufiicient length, however, to be struckby'the front and back strips 11 of the molds as they pass down the slide16.

In the operation of the apparatus the shaft 18 is rotated to causecontinuous movement of the belt 21. Molds are fed into the slide 16 soas to keep the slide normally filled to a point above the dischargepipes 37. The valve handle 35, as shown in Figure 1, is normally in itsclockwise position, which means that the valve 29 is open. The valve 32is opened an amount sufilcient to permit a flow of steam such as to givethe desired discharge from the pipes 37. This steam discharge into thebrick cavities will bring the steam into contact with the cool walls ofthese cavities and the steam will immediately condense on the walls,forming the desired film of moisture.

As the molds 17 move downwardly on the slide 16, the boards 11 willengage-the handle 35 and move it in the counterclockwise direction sothat no steam will be discharged as the top edges of the boards 11 passunder the discharge pipes 37. This prevents waste of steam and alsoprevents the' undesirable adhesion of sand to the upper edges of themold. As soon as the boards 11.- have passed over the handle 35, thespring 36 will move the handle 35 .in the clockwise direction to restorethe valve 29 to the open posi tion, thus causing a discharge of steaminto the brick holding cavities of the succeeding molds 17. The steamdischarge nozzles are closely adjacent the molds and preferably clearthe upper edges of the molds by approximately a quarter of an inch.

The amount of steam admitted'is controlled by an adjustment of the valve32. The water trap in the pipe above the valve 34 assures having drysteam at the discharge pipes insuring a uniform film of moisture overthe entire mold surface. With this-apparatus a suificiently accuratecontrol is had so that a uniform and satisfactory sanding of the brickis' had. This method not only enables the application of a heavier andmore uniform coat of sand, but also permits the use of larger grains ofsand which is a decided advantage in producing desired surface textures.This process permits the use of a greatvariety of sands, both naturalsands and those formed by crushing various materials which could not beused with prior methods and makes possible a development of wider rangesin textures and wall efifects.

While I have shown and described one pre ferred method and apparatus forcarrying out my invention. these are to be understood to be illustrativeonly as the method and apparatus may both be varied to meet difieringconditions and requirements and I contemplate such changes andmodifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

taining a plurality of brick cavities, which comprises moving acontinuous series of molds, injecting steam into each mold cavity at onepoint in its path of movement, and cutting off the steam flow as themold edges pass the steam jet point.

2. The method of applying sand to brick molds or the like, whichcomprises directing a jet of steam against the inner mold surface,tumbling sand into the mold cavities and dumping excess sand by gravityfrom the mold cavities.

3. The method of applying sand to brick molds or the like, whichcomprises directing a separate jet of dry steam against the innersurface of each brick cavity, tumbling sand into the mold cavities, anddumping excess sand by gravity from the mold cavities.

4. Apparatus for moistening brick molds or the like, which comprises amold guideway, a series. of steam jet pipes adjacent the mold path onthe guideway, means for supplying steam to the jet pipes, and means forcontrolling he steam supply.

5. Apparatus for moistening brick molds or the like, which comprises amold guideway, a series of steam jet pipes adjacent the mold path on theguideway, means for supplying steam to the jet pipes, and means actuatedby movement of molds on the guideway for controlling the steam supply.

6. Apparatus for moistening brick molds or the like, which comprises amold guideway, a series of steam jet pipes adjacent the mold path on theguideway, means for supplying steam to the jet pipes. a valve forcontrolling the amount of steam supply and a steam cut-ofl valveactuated hy movement of molds on the guideway.

'7. Apparatus for moistening brick molds or the like,.which comprises amold guideway, a series of steam jet pipes adjacent the mold path on theguideway, means for supplying steam to the jet pipes, a valve forcontrolling the amount of steam supply and a steam cut-oil valve, saidvalve being normally opened and having a bandle extending into the pathof molds on the guideway whereby said molds actuate the handle to cutoff steam as mold edges pass adjacent the steam jet pipes.

8. Apparatus for sending brick molds or the like, comprising means forsupplying steam to the mold cavities, means for introducing sand intosaid cavities, and means for removing excess sand.

9. Apparatus for sanding brick molds or the like, comprising a steamheader having a plurality of jets, means for causing molds to pass adj:nfi said jets. means for supplying sand to the molds after they havepassed under the ets.

10. Apparatus for sanding brick molds or the like, comprising a steamheader having a plu- 't-; of jets, means for supplying steam to the ts,m. ns for controlling the supply of steam.

or causing molds to pass adjacent said means for supplying sand to themolds af ter they have passed under the jets, and means IRL R, CLINE.

